The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Maria Tripodi, is on mission to Seoul for the second session of the Italy–Republic of Korea Strategic Dialogue.
As the principal bilateral consultation mechanism – whose reactivation was encouraged by President Lee and Prime Minister Meloni during the latter’s recent visit – the Dialogue seeks to inject renewed momentum into relations between the two countries.
During the session, co-chaired by the Undersecretary and the Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Park Yoonjoo, particular attention was devoted to the definition of the Italy–Republic of Korea Action Plan 2026–2030, agreed at Heads of Government level. “Economic relations represent one of the pillars of our bilateral cooperation. The Republic of Korea is Italy’s fourth-largest trading partner in Asia and is included in the Asia-Pacific Focus of the National Export Plan for high-potential non-EU markets. In 2024, total trade reached EUR 11.4 billion, with a surplus of approximately EUR 1 billion in Italy’s favour. We are confident that the conditions can be further enhanced to improve access for Italian products to the Korean market,” the Undersecretary stated, reaffirming the importance Italy attaches to the full and timely implementation of the Memorandum signed in 2023 to strengthen investment and industrial cooperation in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, critical raw materials, automotive and renewable energy.
On the margins of the Dialogue, the Undersecretary also held fruitful bilateral meetings with the Korean Vice Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, Lee Hohyeon, and the Vice Minister for Trade, Park Jungsung.
